Hopewell Resident Missing 11 Days Since Hiking In Upstate New York (UPDATED)

Alex Stevens, 28, resident of Hopewell and graduate of Hopewell Valley Central High School, began a three-day hike in the High Peaks Wilderness area on Wallface Mountain in Essex County, New York on September 2nd. After registering his hike duration at the trailhead register and speaking with fellow hikers, he has not been heard from since.

Wallface Mountain is distinguished as having the state’s highest peak, attracting climbers from throughout the tristate area. Though Alex had no intention of rock climbing, officials say that he was ill-prepared for a three-day hike in the wilderness. When last seen, he was wearing open-toed sandals and shorts. He brought with him his mobile phone and his small backpack contained a little food, a bedroll, and a hammock with a tarp.

Family reported him missing to New York State (NYS) Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Forest Rangers on September 10th, launching a massive search through the mountain’s rugged terrain. The search team consists of NYS DEC Forest Rangers, volunteer professional rock climbers, members of Search and Rescue of the Northern Adirondacks (SARNAK), radio operators, search dogs, and a State Police Aviation Unit helicopter.

On Monday, searchers found some of his belongings at the mountain’s summit.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts are asked to contact Ray Brook with the New York State Police at 518-897-2000.

Angela Jacobs is a freelance writer who lives in Hopewell Township with her teenaged children and partner of 20 years. Despite her best efforts to simplify her life, last year she added four chickens and a second rescue dog to her pet menagerie. Unfortunately, an interim of peaceful coexistence ended with the untimely demise of two of the chickens at the paws of Jax, the new dog. An egregious lack of impulse control has since been diagnosed resulting in an indefinite separation of Jax from all present and future chickens, her two cockatiels, open garbage cans, snacks open on tables, abandoned stuffed animals, etc. She does however gently encourage him toward a certain industrious squirrel that has spelunked its way through her backyard in search of the most perfect hiding spot for its nuts.